Mazda word origin
- Thread starter uclap5
- Start date
You are correct the Mazda name did come from the japanese god. The old Mazda emblem was supposed to be the eternal burning light from a candle from the god Mazda. Just like how it isn't pronounced Mazda in Japan they lask the phenotics to say z's so it is pronouced ma-shi-da just some usless facts you might also like to know there.
Gro Harlem
Member
Corksports version of the story of the name:
In Japan, automobile manufacturers commonly carry the names of their founders or of the town where they were established. Though this makes perfect sense to the Japanese, these multi-word titles dont make for a great brand identity in the Western world.
Toyo Cork Kogyo Co., Ltd., for example, doesnt roll of the tongue as smoothly as say, Ford. But this automaker knew a better name would have to be concocted if they were ever to export their cars overseas.
The solution lay with the companys first president, Jujiro Matsuda. In Japanese, no syllables are ever stressed and some inner syllables are virtually skipped. Thus, Matsuda is pronounced "Matsda." To make the name fly better outside of Japan, the spelling was changed to Mazda.
Conveniently, Mazda already had meaning. Zoroaster (also called Zarathustra) formed a religion in the late 6th/early 7th centuries, rejecting the pantheistic cults of the time and instituting, in their place, a religion based on the worship of one god, Ahura Mazda (or Ormazd).
By the time Toyo Kogyo introduced their first production vehicle in 1931, (actually a 3-wheeled truck), it carried a Mazda badge. The name would continue on their first passenger car, the 1960 R360 Coupe. But the company would not be officially renamed Mazda until 1984.
Incidentally, Zoroastrianism still exists today in Iran, India, and elsewhere. No word yet on wether theyre planning to sue for trademark infringement
In Japan, automobile manufacturers commonly carry the names of their founders or of the town where they were established. Though this makes perfect sense to the Japanese, these multi-word titles dont make for a great brand identity in the Western world.
Toyo Cork Kogyo Co., Ltd., for example, doesnt roll of the tongue as smoothly as say, Ford. But this automaker knew a better name would have to be concocted if they were ever to export their cars overseas.
The solution lay with the companys first president, Jujiro Matsuda. In Japanese, no syllables are ever stressed and some inner syllables are virtually skipped. Thus, Matsuda is pronounced "Matsda." To make the name fly better outside of Japan, the spelling was changed to Mazda.
Conveniently, Mazda already had meaning. Zoroaster (also called Zarathustra) formed a religion in the late 6th/early 7th centuries, rejecting the pantheistic cults of the time and instituting, in their place, a religion based on the worship of one god, Ahura Mazda (or Ormazd).
By the time Toyo Kogyo introduced their first production vehicle in 1931, (actually a 3-wheeled truck), it carried a Mazda badge. The name would continue on their first passenger car, the 1960 R360 Coupe. But the company would not be officially renamed Mazda until 1984.
Incidentally, Zoroastrianism still exists today in Iran, India, and elsewhere. No word yet on wether theyre planning to sue for trademark infringement
Mazdaspeedgirl
Resident Autocrosser
- :
- 99 10AE MX-5 | 2016.5 CX-5 GT
Kool....good information. But which is correct? 
And GOOD GOD!!! Alan (uclap5), that is a niiiiiice avetar pic!(shocked)(wow)
And GOOD GOD!!! Alan (uclap5), that is a niiiiiice avetar pic!(shocked)(wow)
Mazdaspeedgirl said:Kool....good information. But which is correct?
And GOOD GOD!!! Alan (uclap5), that is a niiiiiice avetar pic!(shocked)(wow)
HAHAHA thanks, us hapas are known to be good lookin
(half white half chinese in my case)Just remember, it takes a whooooole lot of bad pictures to come upon a really good one
Mazdaspeedgirl
Resident Autocrosser
- :
- 99 10AE MX-5 | 2016.5 CX-5 GT
I second that!!!uclap5 said:
HAHAHA thanks, us hapas are known to be good lookin
LOL! good point...uclap5 said:
Just remember, it takes a whooooole lot of bad pictures to come upon a really good one
Okay, don't laugh, but I can't remeber for the life of me where the Bruins are from...help...
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Cork Sport is the right one...The name of the company is a close relation to the acutal founder of the cork company Toyo Kogyo. Toyo Kogyo turned into the car company Mazda.
Interestingly, Cork Sport got their name as a play on what Mazda originally used to be.
The only time, as far as I know, the relationship was meant to be used between the car company and the Zoroastrian religion was when Mazda used the "candle" emblem in the early '90s.
The Zoroastrian religion uses candles in their religious ceremonies. They don't actually worship the candle, they direct their worship towards the candle. Similar to directing worship towards the cross or what not.
There are candles out there that you can buy that have the little candle emblem on it (looks just like the one on Mazda cars). These are intended for the religious ceremonies, not for the car company.
The candle is supposed to represent the constant movement and ever changing aspects of the car company. In other words, innovative and advanced. Which Mazda is.
However, the relationship was pretty much lost on the majority of the North American market, and so Mazda changed the emblem to the present "flying M" that we have today.
Pretty interesting stuff if you ask me.
Interestingly, Cork Sport got their name as a play on what Mazda originally used to be.
The only time, as far as I know, the relationship was meant to be used between the car company and the Zoroastrian religion was when Mazda used the "candle" emblem in the early '90s.
The Zoroastrian religion uses candles in their religious ceremonies. They don't actually worship the candle, they direct their worship towards the candle. Similar to directing worship towards the cross or what not.
There are candles out there that you can buy that have the little candle emblem on it (looks just like the one on Mazda cars). These are intended for the religious ceremonies, not for the car company.
The candle is supposed to represent the constant movement and ever changing aspects of the car company. In other words, innovative and advanced. Which Mazda is.
However, the relationship was pretty much lost on the majority of the North American market, and so Mazda changed the emblem to the present "flying M" that we have today.
Pretty interesting stuff if you ask me.
Last edited by a moderator:
Here is more comfirmation from the Protege Faq Page :
What does "Mazda" mean?
From what I understand:
Jujiro Matsuda was the founder of Toyo Cork Kogyo. The name "Mazda" was
coined when the company first produced automobiles. "Mazda" is the
Zoroastrian god of life. I believe the name was chosen to represent the
company's ever moving innovations. It was also done so because "Mazda"
closely resembles "Matsuda". Mazda is pronounced MA-SHI-DA in Japanese (the
language lacks the "Z" sound). You may sometimes find candles with the name
"Mazda" on them. They're related to the actual Zoroastrian religion and not
the motor company. You should now understand why the Mazda logo from the
early 90's were used and scrapped due to its difficulty to be recognized.
The logo did hold meaning, and is actually a symbol of a burning candle.
What does "Mazda" mean?
From what I understand:
Jujiro Matsuda was the founder of Toyo Cork Kogyo. The name "Mazda" was
coined when the company first produced automobiles. "Mazda" is the
Zoroastrian god of life. I believe the name was chosen to represent the
company's ever moving innovations. It was also done so because "Mazda"
closely resembles "Matsuda". Mazda is pronounced MA-SHI-DA in Japanese (the
language lacks the "Z" sound). You may sometimes find candles with the name
"Mazda" on them. They're related to the actual Zoroastrian religion and not
the motor company. You should now understand why the Mazda logo from the
early 90's were used and scrapped due to its difficulty to be recognized.
The logo did hold meaning, and is actually a symbol of a burning candle.
Mazdaspeedgirl
Resident Autocrosser
- :
- 99 10AE MX-5 | 2016.5 CX-5 GT
LOL...we in the miata club differenciate the two symbols as the "toilet seat" (pre-99 emblem) and the "bat flying outta the drain pipe" (current emblem).Kooldino said:
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Mazdaspeedgirl said:
LOL...we in the miata club differenciate the two symbols as the "toilet seat" (pre-99 emblem) and the "bat flying outta the drain pipe" (current emblem).
You picked up a rotary pick-up?!?! Damn I've wanted one of those for ever. They would make a cool little old sprot truck for autocrossing.
Mazdaspeedgirl
Resident Autocrosser
- :
- 99 10AE MX-5 | 2016.5 CX-5 GT
ohhh yeahhhh!! It's a kool truck! I made a post in the Rotary Cars forum....have a look! i posted some kool facts about them...StuttersC said:
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Mazdaspeedgirl said:
I'll go look see for myself then...
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